Kristi Scales, the sideline reporter for the Dallas Cowboys radio network, answered your questions about the team in a live chat recently. Here are the highlights:

Should Sean Lee return to the Cowboys in a reduced role?

Scales: Sean Lee is taking some time to ponder his future as an NFL player. Should he return to the Cowboys? The team would love to keep him, but only at a reduced price. As much as they love Sean Lee, you can't afford to pay his full $10.075 million cap hit in 2019. If the Cowboys release him, they would save his $7 million base salary, but still have $3.075 million in dead money against the 2019 cap.

Obviously the best solution is to convince Lee to return in 2019 at a reduced rate, one that is commensurate with a rotational player. That's ideal, in the Cowboys' eyes. It may be for Lee, too, who likes it here in Dallas. But if he still sees himself as a starter at weak-side linebacker or middle linebacker and not as a rotational guy -- and not as someone who should have to swallow a pay cut -- he will have to make a hard decision about continuing his career elsewhere.

Lee already has $42 million in career earnings. I think he will also consider the state of the roster/team and whether he believes the Cowboys will be real contenders in 2019. He's got his money already, but he doesn't have a Super Bowl ring. He would want to be part of a contending team, if he decides to continue to play.

Should the Cowboys consider starting LVE, Smith and Lee at the same time?

Scales: If the Cowboys keep Sean Lee around in 2019 (and that's not a given since he's currently on the books for a $10.075 million cap hit in '19), I'm not sure how he and Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch could all be starters unless you move one of them to strong-side linebacker. The Cowboys like where they have LVE and Smith, so would you move Lee? He's played the middle and the weak side in his career, not strong side. And defenses are in so little of their base/standard defense these days, the strong-side linebacker is not on the field very often.

Damien Wilson, who enters 2019 as a free agent, was the Cowboys' starting strong-side linebacker in 2018 and he played only 27.8% of defensive snaps. Compare that to slot cornerback Anthony Brown (who substitutes into the game for Wilson during "nickel" sub-packages). Brown played 67.3% of defensive snaps in 2018.

It's more likely that Lee would be in a rotation with Vander Esch and Smith, if Lee returns in 2019.

Besides tight end and safety, what's the team's biggest need?

Scales: The Cowboys' number one priority in the offseason is to lock up DeMarcus Lawrence and keep their elite pass rusher. Any other moves in free agency or the draft or trades are contingent upon what you have at pass rusher.

Wide receiver is going to be a big need in the offseason, especially with Cole Beasley and Tavon Austin entering free agency and Allen Hurns recovering from a dislocated ankle. Terrance Williams is still under contract, but played only 39 snaps in 2018 and do you keep him on the roster? You got nothing from him this year (OK, 2 catches, but you know what I mean).

Yes, Amari Cooper is your No. 1 guy. Michael Gallup shows great promise. Noah Brown has some versatility. But after Cooper and Gallup and Brown, are you counting on anyone in 2019? Lance Lenoir?

There have to be additions in 2019 at wide receiver, whether veteran free agents or the draft.

And what about offensive line? Travis Frederick hopes to take part in offseason conditioning work, but can you count on him returning to All-Pro form in 2019? If not, do you stick with Joe Looney for another season as starter? Do you keep La'el Collins at RT and Connor Williams at guard?

Who is going to be the swing tackle? Tyron Smith didn't make it through the 2018 season without missing time due to injury. You had an excellent veteran swing tackle in 2018, Cameron Fleming, but he's a free agent. Can you re-sign him, or do you look for an OT on Day 2 of the NFL draft?

Tight end also needs to be addressed, especially if you lose Geoff Swaim in free agency. Blake Jarwin started coming along toward the end of the season, but he is more of a receiving threat. Dalton Schultz can block and catch, but Rico Gathers is still a huge question mark (and waste of a 46-active roster gameday spot since he plays no special teams).